Safety and signaling device for railroads.



D. G. NEWTON.

SAFETY AND SIGNALING DEVICE FOR RAILROADS. APPLICATION TILED PEB.20,1013.

1,07 3,51 0. Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

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DIIVIOND C. NEWTON, OF OVVEGO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO MAX LINDEMAN, OF OWEGO, NEW YORK.

SAFETY AND SIGNALING DEVICE FOR RAILROADS.

Application filed February 20, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Dnuono C. Nnw'roN, a citizen of'the United States, and a resident of the city of Owego, county of Tioga, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Safety and Signaling Device for Railroads, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is adapted to use in conjunction with railroad lines, whether operated by steam, electricity, or other power, and has for its object the attainment of twofold or dual results. One is that by the operation of the appa 'atus, notification is given to the engineer or mo-torman that he is passing from one block to another of the line and that the track is clear throughout the block he is just entering, and the other is that in the event the track is not clear, then the apparatus will automatically, and without any attention or act on the part of the engineer or motorman, apply the brakes so that the train will be brought to a stop. Inthis way the apparatus automatically protects the train and the lives of the passengers whether or not the engineer or motoroman be neglectful of his duties or perhaps be stricken with sudden illness, resulting in death or other inability to perform his duties.

Generally stated, the invention consists in electrically operated appliances carried by the locomotive, electric car, or other on gine, which are brought into operation by the contact of appropriate circuit closing devices upon the t 'aclt and upon the locomotive or other engine, which shall in the first instance give notice by an appropriate signal that a block has just been entered and that the track in it is clear, and also other electrically operated apparatus actuated by the same mechanism as that which operates the signaling apparatus, whereby it the track be not clear, then the brakes will be automatically applied and the moving train brought to a stop.

The drawing hereof illustrates diagrammatically the construction and method of operation of the parts.

1 represents an electric bell provided with suitable operating devices incloscd in a casing 2.

3, 3, are suitable conductors connecting the bell with suitably constructed shoes 4, 4t.

5 is a somewhat powerful magnet con- Specification of Letters Patent.

.latentod Sept. 16,1 913.

Serial No. 749,570.

nected by conductors 6, (5, with conductors 3, 3, respectively. W hen energized, the magnet exerts its attractive force upon a lever 7 which is normally retracted by a spring 8. This lever, when drawn downwardly, actuates a locking pawl 9, which releases a drum 10, or its equivalent, whereby through appro n'iate apparatus, and in a manner well understood, the brake system of the train is called into action.

11, 11, are set screws for the proper adj ustment o'f lever 7.

All of the parts thus far described are mounted upon and carried by the locomotive or other engine or machine.

12 and 13 are the rails of the track which is divided electrically into blocks or sections in a manner well known, by insulating material 11-, 14, or in any other prelerrcd manner.

15 and 16 are contact ails laid in the track between the rails 12 and 13 and so located and of such length as to properly register with and engage the contact shoes l, 4-, carried by the locomotive or other engine.

17 is a battery of such power as will ring the bell 1 carried by the engine, but not sui ficient to energize the magnet 5 and actuate the lever 7, thus liberating the brake mechanism.

18 is another more powerful battery adapted to actuate the brake mechanism above referred to.

12) is a conductor connecting one end of battery 17 with contact rail 1:).

20 is another conductor connecting the opposite end of battery 17 with contact rail 16.

21 is a conductor which connects one end of battery 18 with rail 12.

22 is a comluctor which connects the opposite end of battery 18 with contact rail 15.

23 is a conductor which connects rail 13 with contact rail 16. The batteries 17 and 18 will of course be suitably housed for their protection against weather, injury or being tampered with, by a suitably constructcd shelter, not shown, preferably located by the side of the track.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: As the lOCUIllLtlVO, trolley car, or other engine, proceeds along the track in the direction indicated by the arrow, the contact shoes l, 47-, engage with the contact rails 15, 16, whereby in a manner well understood the be, will ring, thus giving notice that the' train 1s ust entering a new block and also that all the apparatus involved in the system is in good working order, and if the ringing of the bell is the only thing that happens, then the engineer or motorni'an will know that the block he is just entering is clear of obstruction; It, on the other hand, there be another train stalled or in motion in the block, the circuit from the larger battery 18 extending through the bell ringing and brake applying mechanism on the engine, will be closed as follows: The current will pass from battery 18 through conductor 21 to rail 12, thence through car wheels and axles to rail 18; thence through conductor 23 to contact rail 16, thence through one of the contact shoes 4 carried by the locomotive through conductor 3 to the hell 1 and also through the conductor to magnet 5 and thence through the other conductor 6 to the return conductor 3 and the other contact shoe 4: to contact rail 15 and thence through conductor 22 to the opposite pole of battery 18;- and since that battery is powerful enough to energize magnet 5 sufficiently to operate the brake controlling le'ver 7, it will be drawn downwardly, releasing the pawl 9 and revolving drum" 10, or its equivalent, whereby the brakes will be automatically and without any action or thought on the part of the engineer or motorman brought into operation and the oncoming train will be brought to a stop.

it will be obvious to those who are familiar with such matters that the details of construction may be modified without departing from the essentials of the invention. l therefore do not limit myself to the details.

I claim: 1. Railway safety and signaling apparatus for block system'roads embodying track rails in each block insulated from those in adjoining blocks, a pair of stationary batteries of difierentpower, stationary contact devices for each block, the less powerful battery being connected with the stationary contact devices alone and'the more powerful battery being connected witlr, one of the track rails of one block and alsowith one of the contact devices of an adjoining block, a conductor connecting the other contact device of one block with the other track rail of the adjoining block and signaling devices, automatic brake mechanism and circuit c1'os ing devices carried by the engine, for the purpose set forth;

2. Railway safety andsignaling devices for block system roadsembodying track rails in each block insulated from those in adjoining blocks, a pair of stationary batterie's of different power, stationary'cont-act devices for each block, the less powerful battery being connected with the Contact devices only, the more powerful battery being connected with one of the track rails of one block and also with one of the-contact de' vices of an adjoining block, and a conduc-g tor connecting the other contact devlce 0t one block with the other track rail of the adjoining block, for the purpose set forth;

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. i N

' DIMOND G. NE /VTON.

Witnesses:

ROBERT V. R. BAssETr,

M; A. RoBEnrsoN.

Copies 61 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents, Washington, D; G. 

